A Little Wine, Some Sun, a Healthy Heart
Elements seem to counter aging, adding years to life
 (HealthDay News) -- A sunny day and a glass of good wine may be more than signs of a good day. They might also help you live longer.
Two small studies from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at the effects of sun and wine on markers of heart health and found that, in moderation, both could be health-promoting.
Though sunshine has been much maligned because of its potentially skin-damaging effects, including possible skin cancer with too much exposure, the human body is built to receive some sunlight. In fact, sunlight is one of the body's main sources of vitamin D because exposure to the sun causes the body to produce the essential vitamin.
One of the studies was designed to measure the amount of inflammatory molecules, such as C-reactive protein, and levels of vitamin D. The study was also designed to measure parts of DNA called telomeres, which are believed to be a reliable indicator of the effects of aging. Long telomeres are indicative of lower levels of inflammation and probably of better health.
"The purpose of the study was to see if there was a correlation between vitamin D levels and indicators of aging," co-researcher Jeffrey P. Gardner, a professor at the Center of Human Development and Aging at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, told HealthDay .
The researchers found that women with the highest levels of vitamin D had longer telomeres. Compared with women with the highest levels of vitamin D and lowest levels of C-reactive protein, the researchers concluded that women with the lowest levels of vitamin D and high levels of C-reactive protein had nearly eight more years of "aging" in their bodies.
"Optimal vitamin D status may provide a benefit during the aging process," the researchers concluded.
The second study looked at moderate wine consumption in 35 non-smoking Spanish women. The women drank about two glasses of either red or white wine daily for four weeks, then they were "dry" for four weeks, and then they switched and drank two glasses daily of the opposite wine.
"The data showed that, in comparison with the baseline period, consumption of both red and white wines increased serum [blood] HDL cholesterol (often called 'good' cholesterol), which suggests a cardio-protective effect," the authors wrote. "Similarly, serum concentrations of interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (both markers of chronic inflammation) decreased significantly after both wine ingestion periods."
Dr. R. Curtis Ellison, a professor of medicine and public health at Boston University , told HealthDay that the finding reinforces "many other studies by showing the mechanisms by which both red and white wine help prevent heart disease."
Ellison said, "When you give women a glass and a half of wine each day, you have considerable effects on improving inflammation, a little more for red wine than for white."
Additional ways to improve health, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association , include:
- Exercising daily
- Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily
- Eating minimal saturated fat
- Not smoking
On the Web
To learn more about ways women can stay healthy, visit the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
SOURCES:
HealthDay News ; R. Curtis Ellison, M.D., professor of medicine and public health, Boston University, Boston; Jeffrey P. Gardner, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and physiology, Center of Human Development and Aging, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, N.J.; November 2007, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ; "Patient Page: Women's Health," Journal of the American Medical Association (http://jama.ama-assn.org)
Author:
Serena Gordon
Publication Date:
Nov. 30, 2008
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